Improvement in cotton-tie fasteni



FICE

THOMAS MGINTIRE, OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN COTTON-TIE FASTENIINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,'9L, dated September l1, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS McIN'rrRn, of

Portsmouth, in the county of Scioto and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cotton-Bale Fastenings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l is a perspective View of a metal clasp or buckle.. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same, with two ends ot' a hoop, one end being fastened. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same, showing` both ends of the hoop fastened. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the same.

The nature of my invention consists in the new article of manufacture herein described, to wit: a metal clasp or buckle for cottonbale hoops, so constructed and fastened in one end of the hoop that when the other end is inserted it is firmly secured by the tension of the hoop caused by the expansion of the bale, thus making a convenient and excellent cotton-bale fastening, which can be readily adjusted to any sized bale, in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invent-ion, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

AO B D represent a metal clasp or buckle. O and D represent two slots or holes. A A represent the two ends of the clasp or buckle, which are round. B is a fiat bar, with square edges between the slots or holes G and D, as seen in Fig. 1.

The end of the hoop Eis passed through slot C, bent round and fastened with rivet F, forming a hinge, so that the clasp is easily turned down to receive the other end of the hoop G, as seen in Fig. 2. The clasp is drawn into a direct line With the hoop, hoop G (hoop Gr is represented by H H in Figs. 3 and 4,) passing through slot D, the tension of the hoop, caused by the expansion of the bale, forming a round bend in the hoop over the end of the clasp A on the upper side, also a square bend under the bar B against the bale, thus pressing the end of thehcop against the under side of the clasp in a parallel line with hoop E, forming a perfect lock, as seen at I in Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a clasp and two ends of a hoop fastened as described in Figs. 2 and 3.

My clasp or buckle is made of cast-ironcommon or malleable, molded and cast in the common manner-or of wrought-iron, made at one operation of a machine which I have designed for the purpose.

One great objection tov the cotton-bale ties now in use is the difficulty of adjusting them to the various-sized bales at the press; and still a greater difficulty arises when compressing the cotton, for then the bands must necessarily be taken up or shortened to suit the size of the bale. In my fastening these difficulties are entirely obviated, it being a selt'- fastener, requiring no holes, notches, or any other preparation on the hoop for fastening around the bale at the press, but is simply passed through the slot in the clasp or buckle and drawn around the bale. It forms a secure fastening or lock in resisting the expansion of the bale, as described above in Figs. 2 and 3.

Another great advantage in my fastening is that in compressing, as soon as the hoop is slack, the lock or fastening is relieved, and the hoop is easily and readily taken up or shortened, by passing it further in through the slot in the clasp, and is again fastened as before. Therefore it is a perfect self-fastening cotton-bale tie, and is so constructed asto lie close to the bale, and is not in the way of storing or handling the cotton in shipping, nor liable to catch or tear loose.

The clasp or buckle thus constructed is then permanently fastened to one end of a piece of hoop-iron cut to the proper length for a cotton-bale hoop. The end of the hoop is passed around the cylindrical bar at the end of thevbuckle, folded back on-the under side ofthe hoop, and secured by a rivet. The loop and bar thus form a hin ge-joint, on which the buckle will turn freely. The hoop and buckle, thus completed, is then coated with paint or varnish, toprevent rusting. Without this protection the iron-rust would indelibly stain the cotton with which it is in contact. This paint or varnish is put on by a process of my own invention, so as to add but A new article of manufacture-viz., iron a trie to cost ofthe hoop. hoops for cotton-bales cut to the required The hoop and buckle, thus completed, are I length, and having a, clasp or buckle, confnrnished to the planter as they are to go onto structed substantially as described, permathe bale, and much time is saved in their orignently attached by a rivet att one end, so as t0 incl applicati/on; and when the bale is comform ai hinged joint, the Whole being covered .f

pressed for shipping, as is ordinarily done, the by zt protecting covering of paint or varnish, parts being permanently put together, there' substantially als described. :is again a saving of time in readjusting the THOMAS MGINTIRE. hoops. Witnesses:

NVhztt I claim as my invention, and desire to FREDERICK J. GRIFFITH, secure by Letters Patent, is S. B. DROUILLARD.. 

